Degradation of Engineering Materials – Implications to Regenerative Medicine

Summary: Materials in general, to some degree are susceptible to environmental degradation. The degradation of biomaterials is one of the most relevant issues in the field of regenerative medicine. In industrial practice, the degradation is always a negative phenomenon. In bioengineering, the degradation may be undesirable (e.g. corrosion of metallic implants, wear of artificial joint implant) or desirable (biodegradable devices and tissue engineering). In both cases, the knowledge of the kinetics of degradation is crucial for safe use of biocomponents. The methods for predicting remaining life commonly used in industrial practice will be presented in the context of biomaterials. Non destructive techniques for monitoring degradation will be discussed and some ideas about their application to bio-environments proposed.     

Self‐assembled monolayers of mercaptosuccinic acid monolayers on silver and gold surfaces designed for protein binding. Part II: vibrational spectroscopy studies on cytochrome c immobilization

An attempt has been made for using MSA‐modified electrodes as linkage monolayers for electrostatic and covalent binding of cytochrome c (Cc). For MSA monolayers grown from an aqueous solution on Ag, attachment of Cc in its native state is proved in the case of covalent bonding. Electrostatic immobilization of Cc at pH 7 results in presence of at least some amount of Fe²⁺ high‐spin configuration and/or Fe³⁺ oxidation state. Native protein Fe²⁺ low‐spin state of Cc is observed after applying a negative potential to the Ag electrode. The influence of the solvent used for the preparation of the MSA monolayer and thiol surface coverage of the Ag surface was studied. It was shown that the key factor to obtain the native structure of Cc is the successful blocking of the metal surface by the MSA linking layer. IRRAS measurements of MSA on monocrystalline gold (111) at neutral pH confirm the successful electrostatic Cc immobilization, which preserves the Fe²⁺ oxidation state of the chromophore on this substrate. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Die Reaktion von tBu2P‐P=P(Me)tBu2 mit [Fe2(CO)9] und [(η2‐C8H14)2Fe(CO)3]

^tBu₂P‐P=P(Me)^tBu₂ reacts with [Fe₂(CO)₉] to give [μ‐(1, 2, 3:4‐η‐^tBu₂P¹‐P²‐P³‐P^4tBu₂){Fe(CO)₃}{Fe(CO)₄}] ( 1 ) and [trans‐(^tBu₂MeP)₂Fe(CO)₃]( 2 ). With [(η²‐C₈H₁₄)₂Fe(CO)₃] in addition to [μ‐(1, 2, 3:4‐η‐^tBu₂P¹‐P²‐P³‐P^4tBu₂){Fe(CO)₂PMe^tBu₂}‐{Fe(CO)₄}] ( 10 ) and 2 also [(μ‐P^tBu₂){μ‐P‐Fe(CO)₃‐PMe^tBu₂}‐{Fe(CO)₃}₂(Fe‐Fe)]( 9 ) is formed. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 875.0(2), b = 1073.2(2), c = 3162.6(6) pm and β = 94.64(3)?. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 1643.4(7), b = 1240.29(6), c = 2667.0(5) pm and β = 97.42(2)?. 9 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 1407.5(5), b = 1649.7(5), c = 1557.9(16) pm and β = 112.87(2)?.     

Confocal micro-Raman investigation of multilayer systems

The modern technologies use many multilayer composites comprising, the connection of different classes substrates: ceramics, metals, polymers, etc. In this work we focused our attention on an application of confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy to study the multilayer composites. Different multilayer model systems were used to check the role of the confocal mode. The problem of the transparency of layer, and their thickness were discussed. The procedure of determination of interfaces from so-called depth profiles and their first derivatives was also presented.     

Bildung und Struktur von [μ‐(1,2 : 2‐η‐tBu2P–P){Mo(CO)2cp′}2]

Coordination Chemistry of P‐rich Phosphanes and Silylphosphanes. XXIV. Formation and Structure of [μ‐(1,2 : 2‐η‐^tBu₂P–P){Mo(CO)₂cp′}₂] [cp′Mo(CO)₂]₂ (cp′ = C₅H₄^tBu) reacts with ^tBu₂P–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ to yield the compound [μ‐(1,2 : 2‐η‐^tBu₂P–P){Mo(CO)₂cp′}₂], which crystallizes in the space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a = 1202.42(7), b = 1552.48(8), and c = 1765.3(1) pm.     

Die Reaktionen von tBu2P–P=P(Me)tBu2 und (Me3Si)tBuP–P=P(Me)tBu2 mit PR3

The Reactions of ^tBu₂P–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ and (Me₃Si)^tBuP–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ with PR₃ ^tBu₂P–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ ( 1 ) reacts at 20 °C with PMe₃, PEt₃, P(c‐Hex)₃, P(p‐Tol)₃, PPh₂Me, PPh₂Et, PPhEt₂, PPh₂ⁱPr, PPh₃ and P(NEt₂)₃ yielding ^tBu₂P–P=PR₃ and ^tBu₂PMe; however, P^tBu₃, P^tBu₂(SiMe₃) and ^tBu₂PCl don't. ^tBu₂PH and 1 form ^tBu₂P–PH–P^tBu₂ which yields ^tBu₂P–P=PEt₃ when treated with PEt₃. Ph₂PH, ^tBuPH₂, PH₃, Ph₂PCl and EtOH don't substitute the ^tBu₂PMe group in 1 , instead, the molecule is decomposed. With PEt₃, (Me₃Si)^tBuP–P=P(Me)^tBu₂ forms (Me₃Si)^tBuP–P=PEt₃. The compounds ^tBu₂P–P=PR₃ decompose at 20 °C to different degrees giving P‐rich consecutive products of the phosphinophosphinidene.     

Condensation and Polycondensation of Terephthaldehyde with Methyl D‐Hexopyranosides

The condensation and polycondensations of terephthaldehyde ( 1 ) and methyl D ‐hexopyranosides (gluco‐, galacto‐ and mannopyranoside) are described. Methyl α‐D ‐glucopyranoside and methyl α‐D ‐galactopyranoside react with 1 to give mono‐ 5 a and 6 a and diacetals 5 b and 6 b . Their structures were confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The polycondensation of methyl α‐D ‐mannopyranoside ( 4 ) with 1 was studied in various solvents within the temperature range of 80–140°C. Regardless of the conversion or the initial comonomer feed ratios the composition of polycondensates depended on the reaction conditions leading to the formation of materials with diverse solubilities, molecular weights and optical properties. The regioselective polycondensation of 1 and 4 was examined by the ¹H NMR spectroscopy of polymer 7 . In the case of five‐membered cyclic acetal units, mixtures of the endo‐H and exo‐H dioxolan‐2‐yl system diastereomers are formed. Experimental examples of functionalization via ester units in polymer molecules 8 are described and the efficiency of the reaction routes and procedures are evaluated. The molecular weight was estimated by size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) measurements before and after the functionalization.     

Mild Copper-Catalyzed,l-Proline-Promoted Cross-Coupling of Methyl 3-Amino-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylate

Cu-catalyzed N-arylation is a useful tool for the chemical modification of aromatic heterocycles. Herein, an efficient carbon–nitrogen cross-coupling of methyl 3-amino-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylate with a range of (hetero)aryl iodides using CuI, l-proline and Cs₂CO₃ in dioxane at moderate temperature is described. The procedure is an extremely general, relatively cheap, and experimentally simple way to afford the N-substituted products in moderate to high yields. The structures of the new heterocyclic compounds were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and HRMS investigation.     

Transgelin-2 in Multiple Myeloma: A New Marker of Renal Impairment?

Transgelin is a 22-kDa protein involved in cytoskeletal organization and expressed in smooth muscle tissue. According to animal studies, it is a potential mediator of kidney injury and fibrosis, and moreover, its role in tumorigenesis is emerging in a variety of cancers. The study included 126 ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Serum transgelin-2 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. We evaluated associations between baseline transgelin and kidney function (serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate—eGFR, urinary markers of tubular injury: cystatin-C, neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin—NGAL monomer, cell cycle arrest biomarkers IGFBP-7 and TIMP-2) and markers of MM burden. Baseline serum transgelin was also evaluated as a predictor of kidney function after a follow-up of 27 months from the start of the study. Significant correlations were detected between serum transgelin-2 and serum creatinine (R = 0.29; p = 0.001) and eGFR (R = −0.25; p = 0.007). Transgelin significantly correlated with serum free light chains lambda (R = 0.18; p = 0.047) and serum periostin (R = −0.22; p = 0.013), after exclusion of smoldering MM patients. Patients with decreasing eGFR had higher transgelin levels (median 106.6 versus 83.9 ng/mL), although the difference was marginally significant (p = 0.05). However, baseline transgelin positively correlated with serum creatinine after the follow-up period (R = 0.37; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with eGFR after the follow-up period (R = −0.33; p < 0.001). Moreover, higher baseline serum transgelin (beta = −0.11 ± 0.05; p = 0.032) significantly predicted lower eGFR values after the follow-up period, irrespective of baseline eGFR and follow-up duration. Our study shows for the first time that elevated serum transgelin is negatively associated with glomerular filtration in MM and predicts a decline in renal function over long-term follow-up.